Apparatus for reshaping the necks of cartridge cases



W. E. ESTES Aug. 11, 1964 APPARATUS FOR RESHAPING THE NECKS OF CARTRIDGE CASES Filed Jan. 29, 1963 u. A A H B B 9 B 2 m m 14l/zd/l a El m L1 2 WE m 176%,, u w

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ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,143,919 APPARATUS FGR RESHAPWG THE NECKS 0F CARTRIDGE CASE Walter E. Estes, 211 W. Kansas St., Midland, Tex. Filed Jan. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 254,767 4 Claims. (Cl. 86-43) This invention relates to devices for reshaping and conditioning cartridge cases, and more particularly rifle cartridge cases of the type having a neck of reduced diameter.

It is common practice for rifle owners to load their own ammunition, both in new and reconditioned cartridge cases, and many tools have been devised for this purpose These tools usually comprise a die into which the empty cartridge case is forced, for the purpose of reshaping and outside sizing of the case.

As a result of firing, the neck of a cartridge case or shell is expanded and often becomes distorted and even eccentric, and experience indicates that even new cartridge cases in many instances lack concentricity. This seriously impairs the accuracy of the shell when loaded or reloaded in the conventional manner.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a bullet aligning apparatus by which the neck of a shell or cartridge case which is distorted or eccentric can be straightened and made accurately concentric to the bore of the rifle. To this end, the invention contemplates the use of a cooperative shell holder and tool so arranged that the tool can be forced into the end of the neck while the body of the shell case and tapered portion thereof is held firmly within the holder, whereby the neck is centered and reshaped by the insertion of the tool into the neck of the rigidly held shell case.

Another object is to devise a tool of this kind which is simple in construction and effective and accurate in op eration.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a shell neck reshaping ap paratus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation taken at right angles to FIG. 2, showing the tool-carrying plunger.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I have illustrated a conventional base 1 having a hollow downwardly pro jecting extension 2 in which reciprocates a plunger 3. The lower end of the plunger 3 is connected by a link 4 with a lever 5 pivoted to the extension 2 at 6 and having a handle 7 by means of which it may be operated.

My improved apparatus comprises a shell holder 8 having at its lower end a threaded portion 9 adapted to fit in a threaded socket 1 formed in the base 1. A lock nut 10 is shown as surrounding the threaded portion 8.

The holder 8 has a chamber 11 for receiving the body of a shell A, and an aligned smaller chamber 12 for receiving the neck B of the shell. In addition, the holder has a portion of substantial length through which extends a bore 13 the exact size of the bullet to be fired, this bore being in accurate alignment with the chambers 11 and 12. In fact, I have successfully used as a holder a section cut from the breech end of an actual rifle barrel.

At the end of the holder 8 opposite the threaded end is an adjustable collar 14 having ears 16 formed with aligned openings which pass a shaft 16, having on one side a flattened cam surface 16 and formed at one end with a lever 17 by which it may be turned. The collar 14 is held in adjusted position by set screws 15.

The free end of plunger 3 is formed with special means 3,143,919 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 'ice for holding one section 18 of my improved tool. The end of this tool section is provided with an annular groove 19 (FIG. 2) and an end flange 20, similar to the rim of a shell, and the plunger 3 is formed with a seat to receive the same, this seat comprising a transversely disposed slideway 3', partially surrounded by a semicircular upstanding flange 3 which extends into the groove 19, and overhangs the flange 20. This seat constitutes a wellknown type of shell holder, but it will be particularly noted that in the present invention the seat does not hold a shell, but holds the end of my improved tool section, which is shaped like a shell.

As clearly shown in FIG. 2, my improved tool comprises the section 18, of relatively large diameter, and a section 21, of relatively small diameter. This section 21 is of substantial length and although rounded at its free end, as shown at 22, its sides are parallel with the walls of chamber 12. The section 21 is of a size to snugly fit the bore 13, Le, it is the same size as the bullet to be fired. Moreover, the tool section 21 is of uniform diameter throughout, except that it is preferably formed with a relatively short reduced portion 23, adjacent the end or head 22.

When a cartridge is fired, the neck portion B is expanded and forced into close contact with the walls of the rifle chamber in which it is located. When so expanded, it is too large to hold a new bullet snugly, as required. Therefore, the first thing to do before reloading is to reduce the size of this expanded neck portion. This is common practice, and many special tools have been proposed for carrying out this reducing operation.

It has been found, however, that, after having been reduced, the neck of a shell or cartridge case is frequently distorted or eccentric, and this seriously detracts from the accuracy of a reloaded shell. It is also well known that the thickness of the Wall of a shell neck is not absolutely uniform, but often varies, sometimes being as much as .004 of an inch greater at one side than at the other. Obviously, such a variation in thickness renders the shell mouth eccentric, and, unless corrected, would prevent a bullet, seated in the mouth, from aligning perfectly with the bore of the rifle.

As stated in the preamble, the main object of the present invention is to overcome this defect and substantially improve the accuracy of the reconditioned and reloaded shells.

In carrying out this object, I proceed as follows. The shaft 16 is first withdrawn from one or both openings in the ears 16 and an empty shell, the neck of which has been reduced by any suitable means is inserted in the holder 8. The shaft 16 is then reinserted in the openings in the ears 16', with the flat side 16 next to the end of the shell, and the shaft given a slight turn by means of the lever 17. The round surface of the shaft is thus brought into engagement with the end of the shell, as shown in FIG. 2, thus exerting a camming action which clamps the shell tightly in the holder, so that it cannot move. It will be noted from FIG. 2 that, in this position, the neck of the shell lies within the chamber 12, and that this chamber is slightly larger than the reduced neck, providing a space 12 which permits the neck to be deflected laterally to a slight extent. With the parts in the position shown, the lever 7 is then swung down, forcing the plunger 3 and tool 18, 21, upwardly, and causing the rounded end 22 of the tool to enter the neck B of the shell.

By virtue of the long and snug contact of the tool section 21 with the bore 13, this tool section is held in absolutely accurate alignment with the chambers 11 and 12 of the shell holder 8, so that, if the reduced neck of the shell is distorted, elf-center or eccentric, the tool section 21 will straighten or align it perfectly and render it accurately concentric.

In some cases, I find it desirable to operate the lever 7 in such manner as to cause the end 22 of the tool to enter and be withdrawn from the shell neck a number of times while the shell is firmly held in theholder, and the neck lies within the chamber 12.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior copending application Serial No. 57,230, filed September 20, 1960, and now abandoned.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for reshaping and aligning the necks of cartridge cases, comprising a frame having a pair of spaced, aligned portions, one portion having a guideway formed therein and a cartridge case holder rigidly secured to the other portion, said holder having a cartridge case body receiving chamber, a neck receiving chamber, and a bore slightly smaller than said neck receiving chamber and in alignment with said chambers, said bore being of substantially the same diameter as that of the bullet to be fired, a reciprocatory plunger mounted in said guideway, and an elongated neck reshaping tool carried by said plunger, said tool extending in alignment with and slidably fitting snugly in said bore throughout a substantial part of its length and said tool having a bore-fitting, neck-reshaping end portion constructed to pass through said bore and engage the mouth of said neck to align it with said bore while said neck is held rigidly in position and confinedtin said neck-receiving chamber.

2. Apparatus for reshaping and aligning the necks of cartridge cases comprising a cartridgecase holder having a body receiving chamber, a neck receiving chamber and a bore in alignment with said chambers, means for maintaining said holder rigidly stationary, an elongated reshaping tool mounted for reciprocation relative to and snugly fitting said bore throughout the major portion of the length of said tool, said tool having a neck-reshaping end portion, and means for forcing said end portion through said bore and into the cartridge case neck to align the same with said bore while said neck is confined within said neck-receiving chamber.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, in which said neck receiving chamber is slightly larger than said bore and slightly larger than the diameter of the neck of a cartridge case after it has been reduced to properly seat a new bullet, whereby said tool may reshape said neck into perfect concentric alignment with said bore.

4. Apparatus for reshaping and aligning the necks of cartridge cases, comprising a cartridge case holder having a body receiving chamber and a neck receiving chamher, said neck receiving chamber being of slightly larger diameter than said neck, whereby a relatively small space is provided between them, an elongated tool having a neck-reshaping end,means for. producing relative recip rocating movement between said cartridge case holder and said tool in such manner that said end of said tool is caused to enter the mouth of said neck portion While the latter is held within said neck-receiving chamber, and guide means slidably engaging said tool substantially throughout its length for maintaining said tool in accurate, concentric alignment with said body and neck receiving chambers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Twidwell Apr. 8, 1958 

2. APPARATUS FOR RESHAPING AND ALIGNING THE NECKS OF CARTRIDGE CASES COMPRISING A CARTRIDGE CASE HOLDER HAVING A BODY RECEIVING CHAMBER, A NECK RECEIVING CHAMBER AND A BORE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CHAMBERS, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID HOLDER RIGIDLY STATIONARY, AN ELONGATED RESHAPING TOOL MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCATION RELATIVE TO AND SNUGLY FITTING SAID BORE THROUGHOUT THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF SAID TOOL, SAID TOOL HAVING A NECK-RESHAPING END PORTION, AND MEANS FOR FORCING SAID END PORTION THROUGH SAID BORE AND INTO THE CARTRIDGE CASE NECK TO ALIGN THE 